Everyone has seen wedding photos where the photographer has asked to the groom to “propose” to his wife or that the best man “straighten” the groom’s tie. Cheesy, unnatural and best avoided. To do so, grooms need to take charge, interview and pick a quality photographer and discuss some of the photos he wants in advance.

This article will help you select a photographer, guide you through the day and provide a checklist of must-have photos.

Picking the Photographer
First, don’t ask your soon-to-be brother-in-law, Tony, to take the pictures. Tony: a) wants to enjoy your wedding day and b) is not a professional photographer. Memories fade, but photos with bad lighting, chopped off heads and other signs of poor photography last forever. Since organizing the photography is likely a task for the groom, do not screw it up or you’ll never hear the end of it. You’ve been warned.

Shop around
To ensure that you get the photos that you want and to avoid overpaying a mediocre photographer, make sure that you shop around long before the wedding. You will want to start early since the good photographers often begin booking a year in advance or more. Try to get price estimates from at least three professional photographers.

Portfolios and References
Review your candidates' portfolios and ask for references. Asking for references is a fairly standard practice. When you contact the references, be sure to ask if:
- the photographer was easy to work with
- the couple was pleased with the final pictures
- there were any hidden costs that you should know about
- they would hire the photographer again

Walk away – quickly – from photographers that won’t give you any references.

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